16 April 2007 - Czech beverage firm Kofola has acquired Polish soft drinks maker Hellena SA for 17.2 million zloty (4.5 million euro), reports the Czech business press.
"Kofola was the only suitor," a Hellena spokesperson told the press.
In March, FLEXNEWS reported that Kofola is planning to merge with another Polish soft drinks producer, Hoop.
The takeover of Hellena is seen as a further strengthening of the company's market in Poland, adds the business press, which goes on to say that Kofola-Hoop could become the second drinks manufacturer in Poland, behind Coca-Cola and ahead of PepsiCo.
Kofola produces and supplies soft drinks in central Europe. Besides the Czech Republic, the company also operates in Slovakia, Poland, and Hungary. The company’s 2005 consolidated revenues exceeded CZK 2.8 bln (about 99 million euro). The firm currently has a workforce of over 1,000.